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about
Right before I moved to Hudson I went to the mall and for lunch with my mom, and she offered to give me a pendant of Saint Francis that the nun I’m named after had given to her around when I was born. (Sister Mary Stephen passed away when I was 1.) We were just a Ruby Tuesdays talking about whatever dumb stuff and it didn’t feel like the right moment, so I didn’t take it at that time. But I loved the idea.
Also, I swear she mentioned something about saying a prayer to Saint Francis for my success in music. She doesn't remember that now, but I think she said at least something about it.
At that time, wrapped up in my feelings of adventure, I emailed a friend I had feelings for and told her how I felt. (I know email isn’t the best way to do these things, but she lived in Jordan, and that’s just how we communicated.) Evidently, I am very passionate about my emails as I’ve written or had some part in editing many thousands of emails for my day job.
The phrase "life is very short" comes from a scene in the book Lolita when Humbert Humbert tries to get Lolita to run away from her partner to join him again. I dunno why, it just stuck out to me. It's true.
The line about chatting comes from us GChatting a bunch around then.
I'm really proud of the lyric of the ending "I feel a little glow cuz I've got your attention" and its repetition. In my head, it becomes less for the subject of the song and more for the audience or listener's attention.
I wanted to do something that was more mature. That wasn't silly. I put everything I had into this song, and it’s been the centerpiece of my life in some ways.
I was enamored with Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George when I wrote this. I wanted this to be like Sondheim set to disco. He understands when to and not to use wordplay. "Move On," and others from that show are very direct and emotional. I'd say this song is very "Move On" influenced. Listening to "Move On" right now, I can kinda hear the sweeping higher part of the melody in the "I feeeeeel a little glow" part.
I wrote the lyrics to Part 2 rather quickly. Most of this I think in one sitting. Which I think is good, and I want to do more of that, because imho my stuff can come across as a little labored.
I didn't let my friend know about the song at first because I didn't want to weird her out, lol. But years later, I did send it to her. She wrote back how much she loved the song and that singing it was helping her get through a really stressful time at art school. Which of course meant a great deal to me.
I went with live drums instead of a drum machine because I wanted to avoid it being too throwback-sounding, and I liked the use of live drums on the LCD Soundsystem song Dance Yrself Clean. So I think it has more of a unique sound because of that.
I do have the pendant now.
lyrics
Guardian angels,
make the most of me.
Guardian angels,
make the most of me.
Show my strength.
Hide my weakness.
Don't let go
til everyone agrees
you've made something of me.
Every time
my mother prays
to Saint Francis
of Assisi
to make something of me,
I feel a little glow
cuz I know
that I've got
his attention.
I feel a little glow
cuz I know
how to give
my affection.
But I don't look so much to a
book of story heroes
granting wishes here and there
like magical miracles.
Because
I know
everything's divine.
I just
have to
look inside
you and me.
Every time
I chat with you
and we share something nice about our lives,
I feel so warm.
I feel so tender.
I feel a little glow
cuz I know that I've got your attention.
I feel a little glow
cuz I know that I've got your attention.
I
feel a little glow
cuz I've got
your attention.
credits
from Stephen Bluhm,
released September 17, 2017
Otto Hauser: Drums
One of my best friends, one spectacular songwriter, one of my favorite albums. It's a joy to have one of my favorite albums also be made by one of my best friends. Stephen Bluhm
Well, I just love when wonderful people I know also happen to make wonderful music I know. I'd love this album anyway, but knowing Trevor personally and that he's a special guy makes it even better. Stephen Bluhm
Formerly known as White Hinterland, Dienel comes out swinging under her own name with a smart and true pop masterpiece. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 19, 2017
